Senior Child Protection Case Management and Partnership Advisor

Job Description

A lead responder in Iraq since 2003, the IRC delivers aid and services that help communities survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC is providing robust programming across five governorates through women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and protection and rule of law programming; cash distributions and livelihoods programming in support of economic recovery and development; education programming; and integrated early childhood development programming. Our work spans emergency response to long-term programming supporting our clients to rebuild their lives.

Scope of work

The Child Protection Case Management (CPCM) Adviser will be supporting the Interagency Case Management Working Group (CMWG) established under the National Child Protection sub Cluster in its case management initiatives. The CPCM Adviser will chair the CMWG, and support in responding to gaps identified by the CMWG. The CM Adviser will support with the coordination, development and roll out of Standard Operating Procedures, monitor and adapt as necessary (in agreement with the CMWG) the agreed core CM tools and forms. In addition, the CPCM Adviser will work with the IRC Child Protection Coordinator to review IRC case management tools and practices, to adapt existing tools to the context and to develop training materials and deliver trainings on case management with a best interest perspective, for case workers and team leaders/supervisors. The CPCM Adviser should seek to link guidelines, forms and trainings with the Iraqi legal framework and work closely with the government in KRI and Federal Iraq to ensure their engagement within the CMWG. The CPCM Adviser will also be involved in reporting and coordinating with the donor funding the position.

Specific responsibilities

1. Coordination

• Chair the Case Management Working Group on a monthly basis;

• Lead on all initiatives linked to the Case Management Working Group in close coordination with the Child Protection Sub-Cluster Coordinators;

• Coordinate with the CPWG co-chairs at governorate level to support the establishment of governorate-level case management task forces, where required;

• Coordinate with members of the CMWG regularly to ensure the deliverables take place according to the Work Plan of the CM Working Group and TORs

• Coordinate with CPWG leads throughout Iraq to coordinate the development and delivery of case management trainings and to ensure links to local contexts where possible.

• Liaise and support governorate-level case management Task Forces (CMTF) where they do exist to strengthen them and expand their scope;

• Regularly liaise with CMWG members to support with the advancement and deliverables of initiatives and CMWG work plan;

• Support partners in updating of Case Management SOPs and contextualization to Federal Iraq, ensuring the engagement of CM actors as needed;

• Support in and follow-up on updating/developing service mapping and local context-specific referral pathways for child protection in all governorates;

• Update CMWG work plan and TORs, as needed;

• Lead on CMWG advocacy efforts at KRI and Federal Iraq level;

• Under the guidance of Child Protection Sub-Cluster Coordinators, support with fundraising efforts;

2. Capacity Building

• Collaborate with CMWG members to finalize training packages on case management (based on SOPs and referral pathways) and training plan for the Training of Trainers (ToT) for case workers (frontline workers) and case worker supervisors;

• Lead in the development and contextualization of coaching and mentoring guidelines and materials;

• Work with trained mentors in support of a case worker mentoring programme in each governorate, based on needs and requirements from case management implementing partners;

• Establish a list of Trainers to support with capacity building efforts and co-lead trainings where needed;

• Identify capacity gaps and work with members to close them with trainings or other capacity building activities.

• Identify National partner or government body to coach and support with leadership of Case Management Working Group.

3. Government engagement

• Closely work with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs both at KRI and Federal Iraq level to ensure engagement within the Case Management Working Group and, where possible, ownership of Case Management Working Group Initiatives;

• Coordinate with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on efforts and case management initiatives including, but not limited to, Alternative Care in Emergencies, Identification, Documentation, Tracing and Reunification, Children and Armed Conflict, Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups.

4. Support IRC Case Management Implementation

• Support the CP Coordinator in updating IRC case management technical documents to ensure quality delivery under current programming. Identify current needs and gaps in the delivery of case management among child protection team members

• Support IRC Case Management Implementation in Iraq by conducting training to IRC CP managers on case management best practices and adaptation tools and plans. Define an action plan to achieve objectives, in collaboration with CP Program Coordinator.

• Be the focal point to communications with the donor funding the position and contribute to reporting

Other responsibilities

• Support with development of Standard Operating Procedures, as well as the update, contextualization, and roll-out of SOPs in coordination with CMWG members;

• Support the CPIMS+ pilot and future CPIMS+ initiatives as necessary;

• Lead on the monitoring and analysis of CM trends

Requirements

• University degree in International social work, Social studies, International Development, Psychology or a related field.

• Advanced university degree in social work preferable, but not required

• Five years child protection case management experience in International settings with International NGOS/UN Agencies

• Experience in effectively dealing with international staff, government officials, and other NGO’s staff and ability to work with a broad spectrum of people

• Good knowledge and understanding of international child protection and youth policy and practice issues.

• Coordination experience in humanitarian field

• Experience in working in Child Protection programs in emergencies, including with displaced communities

• Proven experience in case management capacity building (development of SOPs, development and delivery of trainings to different audiences)

Experience and understanding of child protection and case management in Iraq context preferred

• Ability to develop training, manuals, and tools at high level

• Proved experience in delivering training with a variety of audiences

• Experienced in setting up and maintaining databases for case management services

• Fluency in English mandatory, fluency in Arabic preferred

Travel: This position is based in Erbil, Iraq

Working Environment: The overall security situation in Erbil is relatively calm. Security in field sites and Baghdad is currently fairly stable but subject to change at any time.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are an Iraqi national, are currently located outside of your home country and possess at least three years of international work experience, the Syria Response Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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